Outside the city in Li Village lived the branch of Sixth Uncle Li’s family.
Early in the morning, Zhenniang prepared hot water as usual, then said to Madam Zhao: “Mother, I agreed with Grandfather yesterday to visit Sixth Uncle’s home outside the city today. If Third Uncle Cheng or anyone from the Luo family comes to deliver tung oil during the day, please accept it and tell them I’ll deliver the processed smoke ink when it’s ready.”
Zhenniang knew she had to keep her promises from yesterday, though she suspected neither the Cheng nor Luo families would let her process smoke ink for free – they would still pay wages, which would be a source of income.
She made sure to give clear instructions.
“Alright, be careful on your way. When you’re at Sixth Uncle’s, remember to borrow some bamboo trays – we don’t have enough for raising silkworms,” Madam Zhao reminded her.
“Mm.” Zhenniang nodded and headed out.
“Second Sister, wait for me!” Xi’er darted out from the house, sleep still in his eyes. Zhenniang grabbed a towel hanging by the door and threw it at his face. The little rascal haphazardly wiped his face, considering it washed.
Then, holding onto Zhenniang’s clothes, he followed her out.
“No mischief on the way, and no tricks. When we get to Sixth Uncle’s house, you must listen to me,” Zhenniang instructed as they walked, mindful of his past misdeeds – she had been blamed several times for his antics just after she had arrived in this world.
“As long as Second Sister doesn’t eat secretly by herself, I won’t cause trouble,” Xi’er made a face.
Though children can be cunning, they also have their true nature. Xi’er was the first to notice Zhenniang’s changes after she arrived, feeling that his second sister treated him much better now. Unlike before when she would eat alone and blame him, now she saved good things for him. How could he cause trouble now?
“You little rascal,” Zhenniang laughed at his expression, giggling herself.
The siblings chatted as they walked, destroying countless foxtails along the way, and soon arrived at Sixth Uncle’s home.
“Good morning, Sixth Uncle. Good morning, Aunt Jinhua,” they entered the courtyard to find Sixth Uncle lying on the ground with six-year-old Run’er riding on his back, the child’s face proud and pleased.
Sixth Uncle’s third daughter, Aunt Jinhua, sat nearby recording the lending of farm tools – which tenant borrowed what – everything had to be tracked and checked when returned.
“Zhenniang and Xi’er are here!” Li Jinhua saw them and quickly stood up, calling for servants to bring tea, fruit plates, and melon seeds.
Zhenniang went forward to lift Run’er down, then helped Sixth Uncle up to sit at the stone table and chairs.
Run’er pulled Xi’er to circle the plates of fruits and snacks – children only care about eating.
“Go on, go ask Zhang’s wife inside,” Aunt Jinhua shooed the two boys into the house.
“How are your grandparents?” Old Master Li Six asked while drinking tea.
“Grandmother is still healthy, but Grandfather’s lungs aren’t good. He coughs at night until he can hardly breathe,” Zhenniang replied respectfully.
The Li family was a large clan. Although her family lived by the city gate and associated mostly with common folk who weren’t particular about etiquette, when visiting elders, Zhenniang dared not neglect proper manners and rules.
“Nothing to be done about it. That illness needs nursing. Anyone who makes ink for long enough can’t avoid getting it. Your Seventh Uncle was the same way back then, and I’m sure your Ninth Uncle isn’t much better now,” Old Master Li Six sighed.
“Yes, I understand.” Zhenniang nodded, remembering how hoarse Ninth Uncle’s voice had been yesterday, likely from coughing.
“Do you have some business here today?” Old Master Li Six asked.
“Yes. Recently I’ve been learning to make smoke ink from Grandfather, and I happened upon a formula that requires raw lacquer. I heard Sixth Uncle has a grove of lacquer trees, so I came to ask for some,” Zhenniang replied, maintaining her formal manner.
As for the smoke ink formula, Zhenniang hadn’t planned to keep it secret, so she didn’t mind mentioning it.
“Jinhua, tell Changgen to take some farmhands to the lacquer grove to collect some raw lacquer,” Old Master Li Six said to Li Jinhua, showing no particular interest in the formula.
Changgen was Sixth Uncle’s head farmhand, reportedly highly trusted by Sixth Uncle. He managed most of the estate affairs. As for Aunt Jinhua’s husband, like water flowing downhill, with the Li family’s foundation, he wasn’t content to face the yellow earth all his life. Two years ago, he went to Suzhou with the husband of Sixth Uncle’s second daughter Jinxian to do business, mainly in tea. Besides some fields and the lacquer grove, Sixth Uncle’s property was all tea gardens.
She had heard her mother complain to her father before, saying he couldn’t even match up to a son-in-law. Aunt Jinhua’s husband was doing quite well in business in Suzhou.
Thinking of this, Zhenniang sighed internally. In her previous life, she had seen the clan records. Aunt Jinhua’s husband was originally from the Wang family, named Wang Jincai. After marrying into the Li family, he changed his name to Li Jincai and was entered into the Li family records, which contained detailed accounts of him.
The records stated he did tea business in Suzhou, but in reality, he had lost money. After returning to Li Village and the Sixth Uncle’s death, Li Jincai took complete control of the sixth branch’s assets. Later, when the main family faced difficulties, he took over the ink workshop, and when the main family declined, he seized most of the workshop – even Ninth Uncle’s branch suffered under him.
As for Aunt Jinhua, the records only mentioned her death, nothing more.
Additionally, according to the records, Li Jincai had a secondary wife, Madam Su, who had a son and daughter. By the timing, this secondary wife must have been secretly married while he was doing business in Suzhou, unknown to the Li family. Only after the Li family’s decline did Madam Su and her children emerge openly, and the sixth branch’s assets were ultimately inherited by Madam Su’s son.
As for Run’er, besides his name, there were no other records.
In her previous life, whenever she discussed Li Jincai with her grandfather, he would grind his teeth in hatred.
Zhenniang pondered that since her father was now in Suzhou, perhaps she should send a letter asking him to keep an eye on things.
If nothing else, even if the Li family were to be deceived, they should at least know it clearly, not remain in ignorance.
While Zhenniang was lost in these thoughts, unknown to others, Changgen had taken some farmhands up the mountain.
Zhenniang chatted with Sixth Uncle and Aunt Jinhua, also mentioning borrowing the bamboo trays. A few trays were nothing to Sixth Uncle, so he had Aunt Jinhua fetch them for Zhenniang to take home.
“Sister-in-law, I’m returning to Suzhou tomorrow. Is everything I need to take prepared?” Just then, a seventeen-year-old youth entered and addressed Li Jinhua.
“It’s all ready, I’ll get it for you,” Jinhua said and hurried inside.
“This is your uncle-in-law’s brother, Wang Erzi. He’s going to Suzhou to help. Since Li’s Father is in Suzhou now, if you have any messages or items to send, he can take them,” Sixth Uncle told Zhenniang.
“No need, Mother has already entrusted messages and items to Uncle Huaide from the city gate,” Zhenniang replied with a smile. Even if her mother hadn’t already arranged with Fang Huaide, Zhenniang wouldn’t have trusted Wang Erzi to carry anything – she simply didn’t trust him.
“You two little monkeys, how dare you! Put those things back right now!” Just then, they heard Aunt Jinhua’s angry shouts, followed by Run’er and Xi’er darting out of the house like a gust of wind.
They ran while chasing and fighting each other.
Xi’er ran in front with Run’er in hot pursuit. Soon, Xi’er reached Zhenniang’s side. Seeing he couldn’t catch up, Run’er angrily threw a black object in his hand.
Sharp-eyed Zhenniang saw it was an ink stick. Li family ink was as hard as jade – being hit by it would be like being struck by a stone. Startled, she quickly raised her hand and caught the ink stick firmly.